I had SO much fun planning this event (It  felt like planning my own wedding again) and I hope it inspired everyone like it inspired me! Don’t forget… have fun planning the details (love it all in the details) before the wedding day, but then sit back, relax and ENJOY your day!

post by Elysha

I believe this is the year of going “natural” and is in fact the theme I am going with for next years bridal show. I am calling it Rustic Elegance. Put it on your calendars January 28th!! I truly can’t wait to see this theme “come alive” in our beautiful Tuscan building.

Something that has recently become more popular, however, is groomals, where the bride and the groom both pose for pictures together before the wedding day. In the past, this has been out-of-the-question for most brides, due to the tradition that the bride does not want the groom to see her in her dress before the wedding day. But with the dawn of the 21st century well behind us, we will be seeing many of our traditions changing, and beginning new ones of our own! Groomals are a new institution that we love.

If you are a bride that has already booked at The Canterbury Place, you can bring your photographer to come and take your bridals or groomals here free of charge! Call to schedule an appointment with your wedding planner. If you have not booked with us, but are looking for a great location to shoot, the use of our facilities is yours for $35.

There is a larger part with plenty of room for your bridesmaids, mom, mother-and-law and flowers girls to ready.

We will even bring you a platter of food to snack on while you get ready with your closest family and friends!

The big windows in the room look out on the dining hall, so you can take sneak peeks at your reception set-up!

Of course, the bride needs her own suite! So she has her own room to make her preparations!

And don’t worry… the bride’s room also has what every bride needs: huge mirrors that allow you to see every angle of you in your gorgeous gown!

To cap the night off, you can even do your bouquet toss out of the window!

And, as an added bonuses, photographers love this room! You can get some amazing shots.

Most importantly, the bride’s room allows you to enjoy memorable moments with the people that mean the most to you on the biggest day of your life!

• Chocolate Fountains! No one is disappointed when they come to a wedding and get to help themselves to fresh fruit, fluffy marshmallows, and salty pretzels dipped in delicious, silky chocolate! Chocolate fountains are so beautiful, too, that they become a part of your décor. At The Canterbury Place, we can even dye a white chocolate fountain to make it one of your wedding colors!
• Candy Bars! Candy bars help cover a lot of bases. They are beautiful decoration, they provide extra treats for your guests, and they can be used as a favor! You can get the candy in only your colors, so that it enhances your event and adds a pop of your personality.
• Coffee Bars! This is especially good after a served dinner. While your guests are mingling and talking, they can grab a cup of hot coffee and relax.
• Hot Cocoa Bars! At The Canterbury Place, this is one of our wintertime favorites. Hot cocoa bars add a unique touch to the wedding and allow your guests to warm up while the snow is falling outside!

These are the types of unique, special touches that will be memorable to both you and your guests. Talk to your wedding planner about how you can add one of these fun food options to your reception catering package!

• Decide on your personal style. Funky? Elegant? Trendy? Classic? Knowing the “feel” of your wedding will help you eliminate all the things that don’t mesh with your personal style, and will allow you to zero in on what fits.
• Pick your colors! You can’t make many decisions until you know this fundamental aspect. If you’re not one of those girls that has known her colors since she was 5, then take advantage of wedding blogs! See what jumps out at you, and recruit friends and family to give their opinion on what goes with your personality.
• Make a list of what is most important to you (i.e. flowers, the cake, the décor, etc.). This is especially important if you are on a budget, because it will help you to know where to put your money.
• Take advantage of bridal fairs, especially if you are not sure what you like or want! Bridal fairs give you the opportunity to look at different set-ups and color schemes. They also allow you to get contact information for different vendors (i.e. the videographer, dress shops, and more). If you see something you love, you can talk to your wedding planner about making it happen!
• Start gathering addresses! Most brides will be surprised at how long it takes to gather the addresses of all your friends, family, your parent’s friends, and those people you haven’t spoken to in years, but still feel obligated to invite.

These are all important, but the best piece of advice I was given when I got engaged: enjoy this time! It’s incredibly easy to get stressed and overwhelmed, but don’t let yourself. Enjoy this singular time in your life, and learn to enjoy making every decision that leads to your perfect day. Let the small things go, and have fun with everything else!